Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 1059

DrNefario · 03-11-2013, 09:25 AM

I finished Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey a couple of days ago. It's a 900 page fantasy novel, and I read it in 11 days, which is well above my normal reading rate, and that should tell you how much I liked it. As I mentioned before, it's a tricky one to recommend because of its dark sexual content, but ultimately it's still a quality piece of epic fantasy with a very unusual protagonist. I'll definitely be reading more in the series. This book is technically part of a trilogy, but stands alone as a complete story, with just the barest tease of the next volume right at the end.

I also managed to finished Replay: The History of Video Games by Tristan Donovan yesterday. I had left it untouched for at least a year, maybe even two, and then it turned out I was only about ten pages from the start of the appendices and indexes. It's a good read, if you're at all interested in video gaming, but I found the early stuff a lot more interesting than the later stuff, which is kind of why I let it lapse.

Having enjoyed the Jacqueline Carey, I decided I was willing to attempt something I was less keen on, and have started Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov, his belated sequel to the Foundation Trilogy, which I read last year. I'm expecting it to be a bit boring, but it won a Hugo, so I have to trudge my way through it just to cross it off the list. I'm really hoping to have my expectations confounded.

Apache · 03-11-2013, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's shocking. I'd ask for my money back!

It was a freebie from Amazon.

Apache

HarryT · 03-11-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

It was a freebie from Amazon.

Apache

I know. It was a feeble attempt at humour on my part

.

Dr. Drib · 03-11-2013, 10:17 AM

Almost finished with "The Woman in Black," by Susan Hill.

This is a great haunted house mystery.

Highly recommended.

Don

HarryT · 03-11-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Almost finished with "The Woman in Black," by Susan Hill.

This is a great haunted house mystery.

Highly recommended.

I've seen the stage version of it twice. REALLY good.

DiapDealer · 03-11-2013, 11:12 AM

Having myself a mini-marathon with the final two volumes of Robert V.S. Redick's "The Chathrand Voyage" series (epic fantasy/nautical). I put the series down when it grew from its originally planned three volumes to four. Now that the final book is out, I look forward to reading both books straight through and putting another series to bed! The goal is to never be stuck in the middle of another fantasy series (the one story/multiple installments kind) again. Just a handful to go now.

I've found that after the initial anticipation of a new series (or subseries)... it's quite painless to wait until I have a complete story to read (and the reward is quite sweet).

I've slowly been making a fantasy reading transition where series' will be the exception rather than the rule.

Gazella · 03-11-2013, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Almost finished with "The Woman in Black," by Susan Hill.

This is a great haunted house mystery.

Highly recommended.

Don

I started this one about two months ago but I never finished it. I read up to the chapter 'In the Nursery' (60%) and I stopped. I had only three chapters left. Nothing happens in the book! I felt like there wasn't development in the story to keep my attention. I still have the chapter bookmarked so maybe I'll go back and force myself into reading the last three chapters.

Dr. Drib · 03-11-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazella20

I started this one about two months ago but I never finished it. I read up to the chapter 'In the Nursery' (60%) and I stopped. I had only three chapters left. Nothing happens in the book! I felt like there wasn't development in the story to keep my attention. I still have the chapter bookmarked so maybe I'll go back and force myself into reading the last three chapters.

For me, it's the atmospheric writing (as well as the creepiness). Also, for some reason, it reminded me of Arthur Machen, in that the writing is very mannered.

The book is about 30 years old and I think it has been (or will be?) made into a film.

Don

HarryT · 03-11-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

The book is about 30 years old and I think it has been (or will be?) made into a film.

The film version was released in 2012.

I'm interested to see that the stage version has been running constantly in London since 1989; that makes it the 2nd longest-running West End play, after Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap".

Gazella · 03-11-2013, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The film version was released in 2012.

That's right. There's also going to be a sequel titled The Woman in Black: Angel of Death.

JoelArnold · 03-11-2013, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Almost finished with "The Woman in Black," by Susan Hill.

This is a great haunted house mystery.

Highly recommended.

Don

What a coincidence - I just started reading Wilkie Collins' "The Woman in White."

I will have to check out the Susan Hill novel, too!

SeaBookGuy · 03-11-2013, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've seen the stage version of it twice. REALLY good.

I gasped aloud at the point where the villain unexpectedly pops up!

Stitchawl · 03-11-2013, 09:25 PM

I just finished "The Pines" by Blake Crouch. At first I was a bit dissatisfied with his constant reminder of how unsettling things felt, how sinister things seemed to be, etc., as if he couldn't come up with a better way of developing the mood. But for some reason, I wanted to continue reading it... and glad I did. This wasn't the best written piece I've ever seen, but it sure had a surprise ending! I never saw it coming! A quick read that I'd recommend to those who aren't too finicky about writing style but love good content!

Stitchawl

PurpleStar · 03-12-2013, 01:21 AM

I finished Live Free or Die by John Ringo. It was an okay book, except for the overuse of he said, he said, he said for everything that was said! UGH

Well, since I just bought Ever After by Kim Harrison for $14.99 I figure I should start it right away. Yup, right to the top of the reading list!

pdurrant · 03-12-2013, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Harriers, Book One: War and Honor. A series created by Gordon R Dickinson.

OK. Nothing special, in terms of small-scale Mil SF. I didn't feel that the set-up was sufficient to carry the linked stories.

Next up: The Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg.

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03-11-2013, 09:25 AM	#15871
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,099 Karma: 11315768 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I finished Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey a couple of days ago. It's a 900 page fantasy novel, and I read it in 11 days, which is well above my normal reading rate, and that should tell you how much I liked it. As I mentioned before, it's a tricky one to recommend because of its dark sexual content, but ultimately it's still a quality piece of epic fantasy with a very unusual protagonist. I'll definitely be reading more in the series. This book is technically part of a trilogy, but stands alone as a complete story, with just the barest tease of the next volume right at the end. I also managed to finished Replay: The History of Video Games by Tristan Donovan yesterday. I had left it untouched for at least a year, maybe even two, and then it turned out I was only about ten pages from the start of the appendices and indexes. It's a good read, if you're at all interested in video gaming, but I found the early stuff a lot more interesting than the later stuff, which is kind of why I let it lapse. Having enjoyed the Jacqueline Carey, I decided I was willing to attempt something I was less keen on, and have started Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov, his belated sequel to the Foundation Trilogy, which I read last year. I'm expecting it to be a bit boring, but it won a Hugo, so I have to trudge my way through it just to cross it off the list. I'm really hoping to have my expectations confounded.

03-11-2013, 10:17 AM	#15874
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,747 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Almost finished with "The Woman in Black," by Susan Hill. This is a great haunted house mystery. Highly recommended. Don

03-11-2013, 11:12 AM	#15876
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Having myself a mini-marathon with the final two volumes of Robert V.S. Redick's "The Chathrand Voyage" series (epic fantasy/nautical). I put the series down when it grew from its originally planned three volumes to four. Now that the final book is out, I look forward to reading both books straight through and putting another series to bed! The goal is to never be stuck in the middle of another fantasy series (the one story/multiple installments kind) again. Just a handful to go now. I've found that after the initial anticipation of a new series (or subseries)... it's quite painless to wait until I have a complete story to read (and the reward is quite sweet). I've slowly been making a fantasy reading transition where series' will be the exception rather than the rule.

03-11-2013, 09:25 PM	#15883
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	I just finished "The Pines" by Blake Crouch. At first I was a bit dissatisfied with his constant reminder of how unsettling things felt, how sinister things seemed to be, etc., as if he couldn't come up with a better way of developing the mood. But for some reason, I wanted to continue reading it... and glad I did. This wasn't the best written piece I've ever seen, but it sure had a surprise ending! I never saw it coming! A quick read that I'd recommend to those who aren't too finicky about writing style but love good content! Stitchawl

03-12-2013, 01:21 AM	#15884
PurpleStar Wizard Posts: 1,620 Karma: 11387182 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Clara 2E	I finished Live Free or Die by John Ringo. It was an okay book, except for the overuse of he said, he said, he said for everything that was said! UGH Well, since I just bought Ever After by Kim Harrison for $14.99 I figure I should start it right away. Yup, right to the top of the reading list!